Conveyer for hay gathering and feeding mechanism for hay balers



Sept 13, 1949. NOLT CONVEYER FOR HAY GATHERING AND FEEDING MECHANISM FORHAY BALERS Original Filed March 9, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 1' INVENTOR.

I BY

Sept. 13, 1949.

CONVEYER MECHANISM FQR HAY BALERS Original Filed March 9, 1944 E. B.NOLT FOR HAY GATHERING AND FEEDING '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ED/O/W/I/VXY 5%ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1949. E. B. NOLT 2,481,528

CONVEYER FOR HA! GATHERING AND FEEDING MECHANISM FOR HAY BALERS OriginalFiled larch 9, 1944 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

66v 6/ 6A MMDW- E3)- 9290/03, jIEa-E BY ATTORNEY E. B. NOLT O R HAYGATHERING AND MECHANISM FOR HA Original Filed March 9, 1944 FEEDING YBALERS Sept. 13, 1949.

CONVEYER F 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. @Awiw BY E. B; NOLT mwsnm roa anGATHERING Sept. 13-, v1949.

MID FEEDING v IIBGl-XANISI FOR HAY 'BALERS Original Filed larch 9, 1944"I Shoots-Shut -5 IN VEN TOR. 52 9mm,

Sept. 13, 1949. as. NOLT 7 ,5

1 COEVBYBR FOR HAY GATHERING A FEEDING V IBCHANISI FOR HAY BALHRSOriginal rum llplrch 9, 1944 7 Shuts-Shoot 6 INVENTOR.

&. Quill ITOR/Vfy Sept. 13, 1949. E. a. mu 2,481,528

CONVEYE'R E08. HAY GATHERING AND FEEDING MECHANISM FOR HAY BALERSOriginal Filed March 9, 1944 '7 Sheets-Shut 7 GAWAM 52. 9290 66 3 dtikATIOi/Vif Patented Sept. 13, 1949 UNITED STATES CONVEYER FOR BALERSEdwin B. Nolt,

assignments, to

HAY GATHERING AND FEEDING MECHANISM FOR HAY Ephrata, Pa., assignor, bymesne The Sperry Corporation, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application March 9,1944, Serial No. Divided an (1 this application August 1, 1945, SerialNo. 608,285

Claims.

My invention relates broadly to harvesting machines and moreparticularly to an improved conveyor for hay gathering and feedingmechanism for hay balers.

This application is a division of my application Serial Number 525,787,filed March 9, 1944 for Hay gathering and feeding mechanism for haybaiers.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an arrangement of hayfeeding mechanism interposed between a hay gatherer and a bailingmechanism for positively feeding hay from the gatherer to the hay balingmechanism.

Another'object of the invention is to provide an improved constructionof conveyor for hay balers operating intermediate the pick-up means fordelivering the hay over'the front of the baler and the hay balingmechanism.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a novelconstruction of hay conveying mechanism for a baler employing aplurality of positively driven hay engaging means for progressivelyadvancing the hay from the gatherer to the baling mechanism.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the details ofconstruction of the hay conveyor and feeding mechanism for balers as setforth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevatlonal view of a baler to which the conveyor ofmy invention is applied; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sideelevational view of the gatherer and feeding mechanism attached to thebaler and in position for gathering and feeding hay from the wind row inthe field to the conveyor mechanism of my invention; Fig. 3 is anelevational view showing the gatherer and feeder latched in elevatedposition with respect to the conveying mechanism so that the baler isfree to be shifted to selected locations in the field preparatory to agathering, feeding and baling operation; Fig. 4 is a top plan view ofthe hay feeding and conveying mechanism disposed between the haygatherer and the baling mechanism; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectionalview taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a central longitudinalsectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is atransverse sectional view showing the hay feeding mechanism takensubstantially on line '|l of .Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontalsectional view taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is atransverse sectional view taken 5 substantially on line 99 of Fig. 4;Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of the guidemeans for guiding the hay feeding of my invention; Fig. 11 shows afragmentary portion of the hay gathering and feeding mecha- 1 nism withparts illustrated in section showing the arrangement of elements forboth the hay gatherer and the feeding mechanism and also showing thespring mechanism for maintaining the hay gatherer in elevated position;Fig. 12 1 is a transverse sectional view taken on line |2-l 2 of Fig. 11illustrating the gathering members in elevation; Fig. 13 is a horizontalplan view of a portion of one of the hay feeding conveyors employed inthe feeder of my invention; Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of theportion of the conveyor illustrated in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is an enlargedtransverse sectional vie taken substantially on line 15-!5 of Fig. 13;Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing the coordination of the drivingmean" for the gatherer and the hay feeding means; and Fig. 1'7 is aplanview of the hay gathering and feeding mechanism of my invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character I designatesthe chassis of a harvester mounted upon a wheeled support represented at2 about which the parts of the harvester are normally balanced. A pullor draw bar 3 extends from the chassis to provide a connection 4 to atractor or other propelling means for drawing the harvester to thedesired location and thereafter for propelling the harvester along thewind row through the field in gathering, packing and baling the hay. Thechassis carries the baler mechanism which I have indicated generally at5 including hydraulic mechanism indicated generally at 6 for controllingthe operation of the hay compressing and wad mechanism which I have setforth more clearly in my copending application Serial No. 533,415 filedApril 29, 1944 and issued as Patent No. 2,396,720, March 19, 1946. Thehydraulically controlled bale compressing mechanism is indicatedadjacent the rear of the frame of the baler shown at I. The wad boardfor 50 packing the bay has been shown generally at 8 actuated bypivotally mounted means 9 pivotally mounted at In and II, all of whichis more fully described in my aforesaid pending application. I haveillustrated herein only those portions of the harvesting machine whichrequire explanation for the purpose of understanding the coordination ofthe gathering and hay feeding mechanism which is the subject of myinvention herein.

The gathering mechanism is mounted on a frame structure comprisinpivoted side bars l2 pivoted at l4 to the chassis f the harvesterrepresented at I. The side bars I2 provide'journals adjacent oppositeends thereof at l5 for the rotary gatherer represented at I 6. Therotary gatherer l8 consists of a multiplicity of frame members I!extending from the central tubular sleeve-like member l8 to the endframes l9. The

end frames l9 are interconnectedadiacent their. extremities by tie barswhich carry the hay gathering fingers 2|. Each of the hay gatheringfingers 2| are provided with a series arranged coil spring 22 whichimparts suflicient yieldability to the hay gathering fingers whileinsuring adequate rigidity thereof to perform cyclic hay strips 24 whichare pivotally supported at opposite ends as represented at 25 and 26with respect to the movable frame of the gatherer and the trough-likeguide 21 of the harvester. The side bars I2 which are pivoted to thechassis of the harvester at I 4 provide a supporting frame for theextended side bars 28 which serve as supports for the side plates 29 ofthe trough-like guide which directs the hay into the feeding mechanismof the harvester. The members 28 provide supporting'means for the curvedstriplike members 30 which are pivotally mounted on opposite ends asrepresented by rod-like member 3| extending transversely of the ends ofthe members 28 and by rod-like member 32 extending transversely of thetrough-like rnember 21 between side frames 29. The strips 30, whilespaced apart as represented in Fig. 4 serve as a confining means for thehay as it progresses upwardly under control of thegathering fingers 2|intermediate the space between strip-like members 24 and strip-likemembers 38. It will be seen that the arrangement of the gatheringfingers 2| is such cated at 36 and 31 at opposite sides of the gatherer.Stub shaft 38 provides a pivoting means about which link 38 is pivotedwhile stub shaft 31 provides means about which link 39 is pivoted. Link38 is connected through a spring so to the extremity of a suitablebracket 4| that projects vertically from the chassis of the baleradjacent the hydraulic tank represented at 42.

The link 39 has a dual connection thereto through coil springs 43 and 44which connect to the upper extremity of bracket 45 secured to theopposite side of the chassis of the gatherer. The action of the coilsprings is such that these springs serve as a lift when an operative oneach side of the machine grasps the frame of the gatherer and byconjoint efi'ort raises the gatherer from ground level. The coil springsaid in effecting the lifting operation to a height in which the latchbar 46 may be shifted from the notch 41 (Fig. 3) to notch 48 (Fig. 1)where the notches successively engage over the pin 49 carriedby bracket50 extending from the chassis of the baler.- When it is desired to againlower the atherer, the latch bar 45 is grasped and moved slightly aboutpivot 5| thereof for disengaging the notch 41 from pin 43, allowing thegatherer to be restored to ground engaging position. During thisoperation the curved strip-like members 24 and 30 undergo a displacementand deformation operation. That is, the strip-like members 24 pivotabout centers 25 and 26 while striplike members 30 pivot about pivotpoints 3i and 32 allowing the strip-like members to slightly bendtherebetween. During this elevating and lowering operation the sideplates 29 forming the guide for the hay gatherer are free to shiftlongitudinally with respect to the side frames 27 of the hay feeder inoverlapping relation. Suitable bracing means are provided between theside frames 29 and the shiftable frame of the gatherer as represented byangle members'52 and The distribution of mass in the gatherer structureis such that the hinge section is so balanced a that the springs, 43 and44 with the assistance of the lifting effort of the operative at the endof the lever-like frame structure is adequate to shift the gatherer froma position as illustrated in Fig.

that as the hay is picked up and moved through the confining spaceintermediate strip-like members 24 and 30, the fingers 2i graduallyrelease the hay by moving rotatably with respect to the curvature of thestrip-like members 24.

It will be observed that side bars I2 and the extending members 28 forma frame structure which may bodily elevated with respect to the groundwhen moving the machine to the field. Bar members l2 provide mountingmeans for angularly extending bracket members 33 providing journalingmeans for the wheels 34 which normally serve to support the gathererwhen the gatherer is in lowered position, and in use during the'harvesting operation. The bar members i 2 also serve as supporting meansfor bracket members 35 which depend from bar members I2 and serve assupports for stub shaft indi- 2 to the position illustrated in Fig. 3.The drive for the rotary gatherer is taken from the main drive on thebaler indicated generally by shaft A driven from the engine indicatedgenerally at 54. The drive is represented more clearly in Fig. 16 inwhich the engine 54 drives shaft 55 which is connected through sprocketchain 56 extending between sprocket wheels 51 and 58 where sprocketwheel 58 is mounted on shaft A. Shaft A drives the belt pulley 59 andsprocket wheels 60 and BI. The belt pulley 59 engages the V-belt 63which drives the larger pulley 64 mounted on shaft 65 journaled in thetroughlike frame structure 86 of the hay feeder illustrated in Fig. 9.The V-belt 63 which interconnects pulleys 59 and 64 is subject toslippage to prevent continuous driving action of the feeder againstpossible obstructions which may occur in the hay feeding operation foravoiding injury to the mechanism as will be hereinafter described inmore detail. The sprocket wheel 6| carried by shaft A drives chain 61that engages sprocket wheel-68 carried by intermediate shaft B.Intermediate shaft B carries sprocket wheel 69 which drives sprocketchain 10 engaging sprocket wheel II on shaft C for operating the tyingmechanism of the baler. The required proportionate speeds are obtainedby selection of size of the several sprocket wheels employed in thedrive system. The drive means for the gatherer is controlled throughchain I2 engaged over sprocket wheel as bearings for the transverselyextending shaft IN to which is secured centrally thereof the sprocketwheel I82 between the inner surfaces of 1! drives chain I8 shown moreclearly in Fig. 2

which engages over sprocket wheel 18 which drives shaft I5 of thegatherer. As heretofore explained shaft I5 serves to revolve the frameof the rotary gatherer consisting of the space plates I9 heretoforeexplained and the gathering fingers 2 I which serve to move the haythrough the channel intermediate the strip-like members 24 and 38.

The hay is delivered by the gatherer in the general direction indicatedby arrows 88 in Fig. 16 at the throat of the trough-like feederconstituted by side frames 21 which taper as represented by walls 8iinto the troughlike structure 88 through which the hay is moved to thebaling chamber. The hay feeder is shown schematically in Fig. 16 ascomprising a pair of sprocket chains 82 and 83, each of which carrieshay feeding finger-like members represented at 84 and 85 whose functionis to advance the masses of hay delivered from the gatherer to thebaling chamber of the baler. The sprocket chains 82 and 83 are driven bysprocket wheels represented at 82a and 83a carried by transverselyextending shaft 88 and sprocket wheels 82b and 83b carried by shaft 85in alignment with the sprocket wheels 82a and 83a on shaft 88. Shaft 85as heretofore explained is journaled with respect to the side walls ofthe trough-like structure 88. Shaft 88 is journaled in bearings 81 whichare adl'ustably supported with respect to frame members 88 extendingfrom the chassis of the baler. It will be observed that the bearings 81may be longitudinally adjusted by tightening the threaded nut and boltconnections 88 with respect to frame members 88 for thereby eliminatingany tendency of the sprocket chain 82 and 83 to sag. The shaft 88 may besimultaneously adjusted in position by means of adlusting member 88which extends through frame structure 8| and is provided with a threadedbolt and nut connection 82 allowing proper spacial relation betweenshafts 88 and 85 to be selected. The sprocket chains 82 and 83 operatein long channels through the trough-like feeder 88, each withinprotective housings provided by longitudinally extending plate membersshown at 83 and 94. Plate members 83 and 84 are supported from thechassis of the baler through the intermediary of the transverselyextending supporting means 85 which engages over opposite sides of theside frames of the trough-like guide at the tapered portions 8| thereof.Suitable reinforcement for the sides of the trough-like structure isprovided with reinforcin means 88 to carry the weight resulting from thesuspension of the chain-like feeders centrally of the trough-likestructure. The transverse shafts 85 and 88 pass through the sets ofplates as shown. The plates are suitably slotted as represented at 88ato provide for the longitudinal adjustment of the tension-on thesprocket chains as heretofore explained.

The supporting means 85 serve to suspend the two castings shown at 81and 88 in positions on opposite sides of the feeding means heretoforeexplained. Each of the castings 81 and 88 includes bearing portions 88and I88 which serve the inner longitudinally extending plates 83 and 94.The shaft I8I'.c'arries bevel gears I88 and I84 on opposite ends thereofwhich mesh with bevel gears I88 and I81 mounted on vertically extendingshafts I88 and I88 respectively. The castings 81 and 98 include bearinportions H8 and III serving as journaling means for the verticallyextending shafts I88 and I88. The shelf-like members 91a and 98a extendimmediately beneath the castings 91 and 98 respectively and serve asBuide means for directing the hay which is advanced beneath theconveyors in the direction of the arrows H5 (Fig. 8) by means of therotary feed wheels shown at H2 and H4. The said wheels I I2 and H4 areeach of star-like transverse section and rotate inwardly toward eachother within the tapered portion 8I' of the trough-like structure whichguides the hay from the gatherer to the baling chamber. The feed wheelsturn in opposite directions, that is, feed wheel -I 12 turnscounterclockwise while feed wheel II4 turns clockwise. moving the hayinwardly to a central position within the trough-like structure to beengaged by the depending fingers 84 and 85 propelled by chains 82 and 83respectively for moving the hay toward the baling chamber.

Fig. ,16 schematically illustrates single feeder fingers 84 and 85propelled by the chains 82 and 83 but there are in fact pairs of feederfingers carried by the conveyor chains at spaced intervals as set forthmore clearly in Figs. 7, 9, 13 and 15. The pairs of feeder fingerslocated at spaced intervals along the conveyor chains are eachsymmetrically attached to the conveyors and are angularly movable onopposite sides of the chain conveyor. As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, thefeeder fingers 84 are spaced to occupy positions on opposite sides ofthe chain shown at 82. The spaced fingers 84 are interconnected by abridge portion 84a and terminate in hub portions 8417 which are alignedon opposite sides of the coacting chain for the passage of a bolt member84c therethrough.

Bolt member 840 passes through the aligned hub portions 84b, throughlinks of the chain 82 and through a central spacer 82a and also throughcylindrical roller members ill at opposite ends of the assembly as shownmore clearly in Figs. 13 and 15. The feeder fingers also have integrallyconnected control members 84d extending normal from the hub portions 84bthereof. The control members each support stub bolts Me on which aremounted roller members I I8. Roller members II8 coact with rollermembers I" in guiding the feeder fingers during the time periodoperation of the conveyor system.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 9 and 10, the longitudinally extendingplates 83 and 84 each have inwardly directed rails 83a and 84a adjacenttheir lower marginal edges. Each of the plates 93 and 94 also carrylongitudinally extending angle irons on the adjacent inner faces thereofas represented at 83b and 84b. Thus pairs of parallel rails are providedbetween which the roller members associated with the pairs of gatheringfingers may move. As illustrated in Figs. '7 and 9, the pairs of rollermembers Ill and H8 are moved to positions in which the roller membersare all confined between the rails 84a and 8412 so that the feederfingers 84 are maintained in a depending position as represented in Fig.16 for advancing the hay through the trough-like portion 88 asrepresented in Fig. 16,

7 1 The parallel rails extend the entire distance intermediate shafts 86and 65 as shown in Fig. 5 so that the feeder fingers are maintainednormal to the chains throughout this substantially downward inclinedpath of travel. However, as

"the sets of roller'members H8 are released from the space between thefaces of the parallel rails 94!: and 9412 the feeder fingers 84 assume aposi-.- tion illustrated in Fig. 5 and Fig. 16 in alignment with theupper portion of the conveyor chain 32 and return preparatory to arepeat operation as depicted in Figs. 5 and 16. The manner of operationof the feeder finger on each of theconveyors 82 and 83 is identical sothat I have )nly explained the operation of one of the conveyor units.In order to prevent the feeder fingers from striking transverse shaftNH, Iarrange an inclined member 9 on the inside surfaces of the platemembers 93 and 94 to act as cams to gently raise the feeder fingers inthe course of travel in the upper path of the chain. Thus the feederfingers are prevented from striking the shaft II should the chainon'which the feed fingers are mounted sag to an unreasonable extent dueto excessive wear of the chain.

The sprocketwheel I02 is engaged by chain I20 which is driven fromsprocket wheel l2l carried by driven shaft 65. Appropriate means areprovided to tighten the sprocket chain I20 to insure adequate drivingforce and to eliminate undesirable sagging due to wear. A positivedriving force is applied to each of the conveyor chains 82 and 83 and tothe transverse shaft llll for driving the said wheels H2 and 4 formoving the hay inwardly into the throat of the feeder through and alongthe feeder trough to the baling chamber of thebaler. Fig. 17 shows intop plan view the coordination of the parts of the gatherer and the feedframe 29 and shiftable frame represented by angle members 52 and 53. Itwill be observed that the curved strip-like members 24 and 30 aresupported at the opposite ends thereof that they may undergo adisplacement and deformation It will be observed that the parts of thegathering mechanism are all proportioned to interact conjointly and aresynchronized in operation to insure uniform feeding or conveying of hayto the baling chamber as the baler advances through the field inperforming the baling operation.

Throughout the specification wherever I have used the term hay, I desirethis to be understood as a general term inasmuch as the harvestfeedwheels toward each other for engaging hay at the receiving end of saidtrough-like structure and advancing the hay into the trough-likestructure, and means extending longitudinally of said trough-likestructure and disposed in vertical planes extending between said feedwheels and operating in timed relation .to the movement ,of said feedwheels for engaging the hay delivered by said feed wheels and advancingthe hay through said trough-like structure from said feed wheels.

2. Hay feeding apparatus comprising a troughlike structure, verticallydisposed shaft members journaled adjacent opposite sides of saidtroughlike structure, 'a feed wheel carried by each of said shaftmembers for acting upon hay delivered to said trough-like structure,means extending longitudinally of said trough-like structure in verticalplanes between said feed wheels for enaging hay delivered by said feedwheels, means for simultaneously driving said feed wheels in oppositedirections and inwardly toward each other and towardsaid first mentionedmeans adjacent the entrance of said trough-like structure for engaginghay and delivering the hay into said trough-like structure and drivingmeans operated in timed relation to the movement of said feed wheels fordriving said first mentioned means and progressively moving the haythrough said trough-like structure.

3. Hay feeding apparatus comprising a troughlike structure, verticallydisposed shaft members journaled adjacent opposite sides of saidtroughlike structure, a feed wheel carried by each of said shaft membersfor acting upon hay delivered to said trough-like structure, means forsimuler of my invention is equally applicable for use with straw orother material to be baled. In

using the term gatherer" I intend to include all equipment generallyknown as pick-up" balers which are now becoming so widely used inagriculture.

While I have described my invention in certain of its preferredembodiments, I realize that modifications may be made and I intend nolimitations upon my invention other than may be imposed 'by the scope Ofthe appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis as follows:

1. Hay feeding apparatus comprising in combination with a trough-likestructure having a hay receiving end and a hay delivery end, shaftmembers Journaled on each side of thehay receiving end of saidtrough-like structure, a feed wheel of star-like section carried by eachof said shaft members, means for rotatably driving said taneouslydriving said feed wheels in opposite directions and inwardly toward eachother adjacent the entrance of said trough-like structure for engaginghay and delivering the hay into said trough-like structure, meansextending in spaced substantially parallel paths longitudinally of saidtrough-like structure in vertical planes between said feed wheels forreceiving hay from said feed wheels for advancing the hay delivered bysaid feed wheels through said trough-like structure.

4. Hay feeding apparatus comprising a troughlike structure, verticallydisposedshaft members journaled adjacent opposite sides of saidtroughlike structure, a feed wheel carried by each of said shaft membersfor acting upon hay delivered to said trough-like structure, means forsimultaneously driving said feed wheels in opposite directions andinwardly toward each other adjacent the entrance of said trough-likestructure for engaging hay and delivering the hay into said trough-likestructure, and a pair of endless chain-like members extendinglongitudinally'of said trough-like structure with depending fingersthereon engageable with the hay delivered by said feed wheels foradvancing the-hay longitudinally of the trough-like structure.

5. Hay feeding apparatus comprising a troughlike structure, verticallydisposed shaft members journaled adjacent opposite sides of saidtroughlike structure, a feed wheel carried by each of said shaft membersfor acting upon hay delivered to said trough-like structure, means forsimultaneously driving said feed wheels in opposite directions andinwardly toward each other adjacent the entrance of said trough-likestructure for engaging hay and delivering the hay into said trough-likestructure, a pair of endless chain-like members extending longitudinallyof said trough-like structure, said chain-like members being movable inpaths spaced at different levels within said trough-like structure, andfinger members connected with said chain-like members and shiftable from2. depending position with respect to the lower level of said chain-likemember to a position in alignment with said chain-like members adjacentthe upper level on which said chain-like member moves, said fingermembers in their depending positions engaging 10 hay delivered by saidfeed wheels for advancing the hay longitudinally of the trough-likestructure.

EDWIN B. NOLT.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENT

